National Report

Associated Press

Published Sunday, May 19, 2002

Over 400,000 New Yorkers had stress disorder after 9-11

ST. PETERSBURG BEACH -- New Yorkers took an emotional battering after the terrorist attacks, says a study that suggests more than 400,000 city residents have experienced post-traumatic stress disorder.

"There was a very large impact on the population of New York," said researcher Michael Bucuvalas, whose firm has extensive experience measuring stress from disasters. "A lot of that has persisted, but the population is getting better."

Researchers had previously released results taken in October and November, covering Manhattan below 110th Street. On Saturday, they announced the findings from the second wave of surveys, which included residents throughout the city during January and February.

The number of residents who have experienced post-traumatic stress disorder since Sept. 11 related to the attacks was put at 7 percent, or 425,000. The estimate of people experiencing the disorder related to the attacks over the last month was 140,000.

Firefighters battle remnants of Arizona wildfire

PRESCOTT, Ariz. -- More than 500 firefighters were on the job Saturday battling the remnants of a 1,300-acre wildfire that burned to within three miles of the city's downtown area.

Officials said the blaze, which burned five homes and two other buildings and forced the evacuation of 1,500 people, was about 85 percent contained. No serious injuries were reported.

Infrared aerial photographs taken during the night were expected to help the 570 firefighters find hidden hot spots, information officer Bob Dison said.

"Oftentimes you can't see the heat source because it may be hiding in a stump," Dison said.

The fire burned to within about three miles of downtown Prescott, a city of 33,000 about 90 miles north of Phoenix.

Two men die in plane crash

GOVAN, S.C. -- Two men died when their single-engine plane crashed nose-first near a cornfield shortly after takeoff Friday afternoon.

The victims were identified as pilot Gidion Heatwole, 19, of Olar, and Jerold Groff, 25, of Bamberg.

Officials said the plane belonged to one of Heatwole's relatives and had taken off from a small private airport.

National Transportation Safety Board investigators were expected at the site early Saturday.

Traficant wants judge to let two lawyers aid his appeal

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio -- Rep. James A. Traficant Jr., who represented himself during his recent bribery trial, asked a federal judge Friday to allow two attorneys to help him appeal his conviction.

Traficant was found guilty in April of bribery, racketeering and other charges after he was accused of taking bribes and gifts from businessmen in exchange for his influence. Sentencing is scheduled next month.

Traficant, a Democrat, said in a memo to the court that he needs the lawyers to help him challenge the legality of jury selection.

The trial was held in Cleveland, and Judge Lesley Wells said standard procedure was to draw jurors from nine counties surrounding the city. That excluded prospective jurors from Youngstown -- Traficant's hometown -- and other parts of his congressional district.

Traficant, who is not a lawyer, asked to add Columbus attorneys Percy Squire and Lloyd Pierre-Louis to his defense team. Government attorneys could not be reached for comment Friday on Traficant's motion.

Despite the conviction, Traficant is running for re-election as an independent.